Attractions
A group of friends walking on a bridge (Patrice Halley photo)
On Vancouver Island, there are parks and viewpoints, famous gardens and historic lighthouses, arbutus trees and rocky coastlines.
Gaze up at huge 800-year-old Douglas fir trees in Cathedral Grove or see Orcas and sea lions on whale-watching tour. The Pacific Ocean provides lots of opportunities for beachcombing, surfing, and winter storm watching.
Come face-to-fin with a wolf eel at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney, or listen to guides share stories about the Cowichan First Nations at Quw'utsun' Cultural Centre near Duncan.
Be sure to taste local delights: the island's mild weather and fertile soil supports a huge variety of farms, wineries and cideries.
Read More
Vancouver Island Places of Interest
Here are a few ideas of attractions to experience on Vancouver Island:
- Walking through Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park is awe-inspiring and humbling. Accessible trails are surrounded by some of Canada's oldest and largest Douglas fir trees, some of which have trunks 9m/29.5ft around.
- Venture out on a wine tour to sip Vancouver Island wines, picnic in vineyards, and enjoy wine and food pairing at local bistros.
- Pacific Rim National Park is a surfing hotspot and has great whale watching and hiking along its rugged coastline. In winter, torrential winds create huge waves and spectacular conditions for storm watching.
- Quw'utsun' Cultural Centre captures the lives of the Cowichan First Nations. Take a walking tour of the serene riverfront grounds with an Aboriginal guide and learn about longhouses, totem poles and native plants.
- At the BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan, climb the forest fire lookout tower used to spot forest fires, view early logging trucks, or ride a historic train over a trestle.
Family Attractions
Load the family on a whale-watching tour boat and watch the children's eyes widen as huge Orcas, humpback, grey or minke whales rise out of the water. Experienced guides can answer any questions the kids may have.
At the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, get a close-up look at a giant Pacific octopus, wolf eels, and hundreds of other creatures that live in nearby waters. For an even closer look, use the microscopes or feel ocean critters in the touch tanks.
Read Less
Show me Attractions close to:
or

Main Address

Activity/Branch/Terminal

Visitor Centres
12 Attractions in Vancouver Island
1 - 10 of 12 Results
1
2207 Millstream Rd
Victoria, British Columbia
V9B 0J7
Websitehttp://www.allfun.bc.ca
Toll-free
Phone250-474-4546
All Fun offers an exciting blend of activities & action that make it the perfect place for a day of family fun! We feature a thrilling go-kart raceway, challenging batting cages & 18 hole mini golf, a motocross track, an ice cream parlor, along with Western Speedway where you can watch auto racing action Saturday nights. Stay overnight at our RV Park & visit the track Sunday mornings to hunt for treasures at our huge Swap & Shop. Ask about our group rates, birthday parties & special event packages.
More Details
2
490 Bellevue Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8V 1W9
Websitehttp://www.pacificunderseagardens.com
Toll-free
Phone250-382-5717
Pacific Undersea Gardens is truly a unique adventure for the whole family. Located in Victoria's beautiful Inner Harbour, Pacific Undersea Gardens provides the world with an exciting & convenient way to view the marine life of the British Columbia coastal region.
Visitors descend 5 meters beneath the ocean to watch a variety of marine plants and animals. More than 5,000 animals of different species inhabit the aquariums around the vessel in a natural but protected environment. Through the many viewing windows, visitors can look right into the underwater world of the Pacific Northwest.
More Details
3
8400 Byng Rd
Port Hardy, British Columbia
V0N 2P0
Website
Toll-free
Phone250-902-0336
Leap into salmon's world when you visit the Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre. Explore our unique, interactive displays & take a guided tour of a working salmon hatchery. The Salmon Centre is the North Island's newest attraction & a fun and educational experience for all ages! We are located next to the Quatse River Regional Park & Campground. All proceeds generated at the Salmon Centre & Campground fund salmon conservation efforts on northern Vancouver Island.
More Details
4
9811 Seaport Pl
Sidney, British Columbia
V8L 4X3
Websitehttp://www.oceandiscovery.ca
Toll-free
Phone250-665-7511
Hands on, hands wet! Colourful aquarium habitats teem with marine life from the Salish Sea. Guests have the opportunity to shake hands with sea urchins & tickle sea stars in the touch pools. Hundreds of fish, invertebrates & marine plants recreate the ocean environment & give an underwater view that most people never experience. Discover the amazing diversity of the Salish Sea.
The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is minutes from the Victoria International Airport & BC Ferries terminal at Swartz Bay. Stop on by before making your way to downtown Victoria!
More Details
5
35 Nanaimo River Rd
Nanaimo, British Columbia
V9X 1S5
Websitehttp://www.wildplay.com
Toll-free888-716-7374
Phone888-716-7374
At WildPlay Nanaimo, guests (ages seven years & older) find many thrilling ways to spend an entertaining 30-minute to half-day adventure, in any season. The ever-popular Monkido Kids, Buddy, & Classic tree courses provide four levels of climbing, swinging, balancing and zip-line obstacles - suspended up to 18m (60ft) above ground! A scenic DragonFLY Zip lines suits those who prefer a less physical challenge with just as much fun. For the most courageous, the Bungy Jump & Primal Swing are the ultimate rides to unleash it! Talk to a Guest Services Agent or visit WildPlay online to find out more!
More Details
6
1767 Island Hwy
Victoria, British Columbia
V9B 1J1
Websitehttp://www.wildplay.com
Toll-free888-856-7275
Phone250-590-7529
At WildPlay West Shore Victoria, guests (ages seven years & older) embark on entertaining & challenging 30-minute to half-day adventures. The ever-popular Monkido Kids, Buddy & Classic tree courses provide four levels of climbing, swinging, balancing & zip-line obstacles - suspended up to 18m (60ft) above ground! Guests of all bravery & physical ability conquer the Monkido games - & love to unleash an aerial adventure. WildPlay is a fun day for singles, families & groups to conquer one of Victoria's most unique attractions. Talk to a Guest Services Agent or visit WildPlay online to find out more!
More Details
Other businesses with Attractions
7
5128C Sooke Rd
Victoria, British Columbia
V9Z 0E2
Websitehttp://www.adrenalinezip.com
Toll-free866-947-9145
Phone250-642-1933
Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours take you on a fully-guided, two hour zipline tour through a diverse coastal temperate rainforest. The tour includes 8 scenic ziplines, 2 suspension bridges & an exhilarating ATV ride. Ziplines range from 40 to 305 m (130-1,000 ft) in length & up to 46 m (150 ft) high. Night zipping is available once a month. Experience our amazing zipline tour at the end of October via our Haunted Zip. Shuttle transportation to our Sooke location is available twice a day from Victoria Inner Harbour. Add some zip to your trip at this popular outdoor attraction. Reservations recommended.
More Details
8
Great Bear Nature Tours
Port Hardy, British Columbia
V0N 2P0
Websitehttp://www.greatbeartours.com
Toll-free888-221-8212
Phone250-949-9496
Journey to the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest to view & photograph grizzly bears. The floating Great Bear Lodge, with a maximum of 10 guests, is the perfect place to enjoy the wildlife & wilderness of British Columbia. Experienced biologists lead the twice-daily bear-viewing sessions & activities such as interpretive hikes & boat excursions. Tours begin in Port Hardy, on northern Vancouver Island, with a spectacular seaplane flight to the Great Bear Lodge. Voted by National Geographic Adventure as one of the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth.
More Details
9
3900 Horne Lake Caves Rd
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
V9K 2L7
Websitehttp://www.hornelake.com
Toll-free888-801-WILD (9453)
Phone250-248-7829
Crystal clear water, amazing caves & spectacular scenery make Horne Lake one of the best camping & adventure destinations on Vancouver Island. Horne Lake Caves was voted the "Best Natural Outdoor Site in BC" by Attractions Canada. Explore this unique park above and below the surface. Visit Canada's only Cave Theatre and Museum. On the trails, enjoy a wide range of programs from surface geology hikes to family-oriented cavern tours or popular 3hr. Spelunking Adventure featuring ancient fossils & amazing crystal formations. For more challenge, you can self-guide two rugged caves or go vertical on the "Extreme" expeditions - rappelling down underground waterfalls!
More Details
10
34 Weway Rd
Quathiaski Cove, British Columbia
V0P 1N0
Websitehttp://www.nuyumbalees.com
Toll-free
Phone250-285-3733
Nuyumbalees means "The Beginning". The Nuyumbalees Society was founded in 1975 by Hereditary & Elected Chiefs of the KwaKwaKa' WaKw people, to negotiate the return of their Potlatch Treasures & Regalia (Kikasuw). The society is entrusted with the care & preservation of a priceless & historic collection of original KwaKwaKa' WaKw Kikasuw returned in February, 1979. The Kwagiulth Museum opened in June that same year.
A visit to the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre is a fascinating journey that forms a link between the past, the present & the future of the Kwakwaka'wakw People. Beautiful treasures include: masks, regalia, whistles, rattles & carvings of the Sacred Potlatch Collection.
More Details
Things To Do
Attractions & Entertainment